Note 19 - Supplemental Guarantor Information - Supplemental Condensed Combining Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
MDC Holdings [Member] | Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Revenues
Home and land cost of sales
Inventory impairments
Total cost of sales
Gross margin
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	(8,268)		(11,651)			(31,598)	(29,211)
Equity income of subsidiaries	30,711		23,070			80,990	60,310
Interest and other income	1,478		539			3,970	3,830
Other expense	1		(2)			(2)	(5)
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities	(215)		(2,176)			(934)	(2,176)
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	23,707		9,935			52,426	33,181
Financial services pretax income	23,707		9,935			52,426	33,181
Interest expense			155				433
MDC Holdings [Member] | Financial Services Segment [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)
Financial services pretax income
MDC Holdings [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	23,707		9,935			52,426	33,181
Financial services pretax income	23,707		9,935			52,426	33,181
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	2,652		4,843			10,409	10,015
Net income	26,359		14,778			62,835	43,196
Other comprehensive income related to available for sale securities, net of tax	1,028		(226)			3,871	722
Comprehensive income	27,387		14,552			66,706	43,918
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Revenues	578,012		455,646			1,546,267	1,295,273
Home and land cost of sales	(483,829)		(376,667)			(1,291,270)	(1,081,453)
Inventory impairments	(4,700)		(4,351)			(6,300)	(4,701)
Total cost of sales	(488,529)		(381,018)			(1,297,570)	(1,086,154)
Gross margin	89,483		74,628			248,697	209,119
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	(53,452)		(45,620)			(150,492)	(133,125)
Equity income of subsidiaries
Interest and other income	500		298			1,652	1,573
Other expense	(1,559)		(348)			(2,461)	(2,534)
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	34,972		28,958			97,396	75,033
Financial services pretax income	34,972		28,958			97,396	75,033
Interest expense
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services Segment [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)
Financial services pretax income
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	34,972		28,958			97,396	75,033
Financial services pretax income	34,972		28,958			97,396	75,033
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(10,616)		(10,874)			(31,438)	(27,986)
Net income	24,356		18,084			65,958	47,047
Other comprehensive income related to available for sale securities, net of tax
Comprehensive income	24,356		18,084			65,958	47,047
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Revenues
Home and land cost of sales			(100)			(300)	(100)
Inventory impairments
Total cost of sales			(100)			(300)	(100)
Gross margin			(100)			(300)	(100)
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
Equity income of subsidiaries
Interest and other income	1		2			4	7
Other expense
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	1		(98)			(296)	(93)
Financial services pretax income	1		(98)			(296)	(93)
Interest expense
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services Segment [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	10,083		7,933			24,247	21,055
Financial services pretax income	10,083		7,933			24,247	21,055
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	10,084		7,835			23,951	20,962
Financial services pretax income	10,084		7,835			23,951	20,962
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(3,729)		(2,849)			(8,919)	(7,699)
Net income	6,355		4,986			15,032	13,263
Other comprehensive income related to available for sale securities, net of tax	310		1,198			680	918
Comprehensive income	6,665		6,184			15,712	14,181
Homebuilding Segment [Member] | Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Revenues
Home and land cost of sales
Inventory impairments
Total cost of sales
Gross margin
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	(184)		(173)			(531)	(421)
Equity income of subsidiaries	(30,711)		(23,070)			(80,990)	(60,310)
Interest and other income	(110)		(1)			(268)	2
Other expense
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	(31,005)		(23,399)			(81,789)	(61,162)
Financial services pretax income	(31,005)		(23,399)			(81,789)	(61,162)
Interest expense			(155)				(433)
Homebuilding Segment [Member]
Revenues	578,012		455,646			1,546,267	1,295,273
Home and land cost of sales	(483,829)		(376,767)			(1,291,570)	(1,081,553)
Inventory impairments	(4,700)		(3,225)			(6,300)	(3,575)
Total cost of sales	(488,529)		(381,118)			(1,297,870)	(1,086,254)
Gross margin	89,483		74,528			248,397	209,019
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	(61,904)		(57,444)			(182,621)	(162,757)
Equity income of subsidiaries
Interest and other income	1,869		838			5,358	5,412
Other expense	(1,558)		(350)			(2,463)	(2,539)
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities	(215)		(2,176)			(934)	(2,176)
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	27,675		15,396			67,737	46,959
Financial services pretax income	27,675		15,396			67,737	46,959
Interest expense
Financial Services Segment [Member] | Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	294		329			799	852
Financial services pretax income	294		329			799	852
Financial Services Segment [Member]
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities	(111)					(111)
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	10,377		8,262			25,046	21,907
Financial services pretax income	10,377		8,262			25,046	21,907
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	(30,711)		(23,070)			(80,990)	(60,310)
Financial services pretax income	(30,711)		(23,070)			(80,990)	(60,310)
(Provision) benefit for income taxes
Net income	(30,711)		(23,070)			(80,990)	(60,310)
Other comprehensive income related to available for sale securities, net of tax	(310)		(1,198)			(680)	(918)
Comprehensive income	(31,021)		(24,268)			(81,670)	(61,228)
Inventory impairments	(4,700)	$ (1,600)	(3,225)		$ (350)
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities	(300)		(2,200)			(1,045)	(2,176)
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	38,052		23,658			92,783	68,866
Financial services pretax income	38,052		23,658			92,783	68,866
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(11,693)		(8,880)			(29,948)	(25,670)
Net income	26,359		14,778			62,835	43,196
Other comprehensive income related to available for sale securities, net of tax	1,028		(226)			3,871	722
Comprehensive income	27,387		14,552			66,706	43,918
Interest expense